Sewing-machine.



R. L. PLUMLEY.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1913.

1L 197,395., Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R. L. PLUMLEY.

SEWING MACMNE.

APPLICATION FILED ran. 15. ms.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916. 'a sums-sum 2.

Wmtqa I INVENTOR i vATTORNEY R. L. PLUMLEY.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATXQN FILED FEB- 15. 1913.

l ,1 9?,3U5. Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- W A TTORNEY IJNIT era aria no.

RAYMOND L. PLUMLEY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAVVAR'E, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK OSANN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEVT YORK.

sEWIne-Miiciimn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, mm.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND L. PLUM- LEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Wilmington, county of New Castle and State ofDelaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a true and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My present invention relates to sewing machines, and consists in a novel overseaming mechanism which may be incorporated in sewing machines as initially constructed, and is also adapted to be attached to various types of existing plain sewing machines having the usual working feeding mechanism, reciprocating needle and cooperating stitch forming mechanism for forming lock or chain stitches.

The primary object of my invention is to provide simple, reliable and effective mechanism for the purpose described adapted for operation at high speed. a

More specifically, one object of my invention is to provide an overseaming mechanism, adapted to be operated by an eccentric mounted on either the upper or lower main shaft of the sewing machine rather than by means of cams, as I find the eccentric drive to be more reliable and inherently better adapted for operation at high speeds than is a cam drive. The invention may be used with cam operating means when this is preferred for any reason.

Another specific object of my invention is to provide an overseaming mechanism which can be readily applied to and taken off plain sewing machines of various types.

A distinctive feature of my invention is the character of the movement imparted to the thread finger which I employ to draw and lay the over edge loops. This finger I arrange to move in a plane inclined at a slight angle to the line of action of the reciprocating needle, and intersecting a plane transverse to the line of action of the needle at an acute angle greater than the first mentioned angle to the edge of the work which is to be overseamed. With this arrangement the movements imparted to the thread finger may be of an especially advantageous arrangement for high speed operation, and the direction of thread finger movements facilitates the proper formation and laying of the overseam loops.

The various features of novelty which character ze my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and formlng apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, and of the advantages posssessed by it reference should be had to the accompany- 111g drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described forms in which invention may be embodied.

Of the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation, with parts broken away and in section, of a portion of a sewing machine head of common type, having a preferred form of my improved overseaming attachment applied to it; Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial front end elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the broken line l4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an elevation of a portion of the apparatus viewed in the direction of the arrow applied in Fig. i; Fig. 5 is a partial section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 5 illustrating different positions of the needle and thread finger; Fig. 7 is a side elevation, Fig. 8 an inverted plan, and Fig. 9 a plan, of a portion of the thread finger; Fig. 10 is an elevation, and Fig. 11 a plan illustrating the relative positions of the needle, thread finger and work at the beginning of a stitch forming operation; the pairs of Figs. 12 and 13, 14: and 15, 16 and 17, 18 and 19, and 20 and 21, each comprise an elevation and plan taken similarly to Figs. 10 and 11, respectively, the successive pairs of figures illustrating the position of the pairs in successive stages of the stitch forming operation; Fig. 22 is a bottom view of a piece of work having lock stitches formed in it as shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 23 is a bottom view of a piece of work in which single thread chain stitches are formed; Fig. 24: is a bot tom view of a piece of work in which a lock chain stitch is formed; and Fig. 25 is an elevation of a portion of a machine of modified construction.

In the drawings I have illustrated the application of my novel overseaming attachment to a lock stitch sewing machine of common type. The sewing machine proper comprises the usual bed A and throat plate A, goose neck B, reciprocating needle bar C, eye pointed needle D, rotary hook E, bobbin F, and four motion feeding device G. The overseaming attachment comprises a. bracket H detachably secured to the goose neck B and provided with two parallel studs I-I. These studs serve as fixed pivotal supports for links I and I which are pivotally connected at one end one to one and the other to the second of the studs H. The opposite ends of the links I and I are pivotally connected to the overseaming thread finger bar J. As shown, the thread finger proper is a bent part M detachably secured in a socket J 2 formed at the lower end of the bar J. The bar J is provided with a stud J located approximately midway between and parallel to the axes of the pivotal connections between the links I and I. The

bar J is given its movements by means of an eccentric K formed on the upper main shaft 7 plane which is transverse to the parallel K of the sewing machine, and the connecting rod L. The latter is provided at its upper end with an eccentric strap surrounding the eccentric K, and pivotally connected at its lower end to the stud J on the bar J.

With the arrangement described the rotation of the shaft K through the eccentric K and connecting rod L imparts an up and down movement to the bar J. Owing to the link supporting connections for the bar J the up and down movements of the latter are accompanied also by oscillatory move ments about the axis of the movable stud J. Both movements of the bar J and consequently of thread finger M take place in a studs H and J and is slightly inclined to the line of action of the needle D and also to the axis of the shaft K, and consequently is at an acute angle with the edge of the work to be overseamed. The pivotal connections between the links I and I and the studs H on the one hand, and the bar J on the other hand, and the connections of the latter with the eccentric K are so disposed eccentric strap spherical.

that the movements of the different parts of the overseaming attachment are easy in character and well adapted for continuous operation at relatively high speeds. In operation the connecting rod L has a rocking movement about an axis transverse to the shaft K but this movement is quite small in extent and is accommodated by making the contacting surfaces of the eccentric K and The thread finger M is formed, as shown, with an offset portion at its lower end. Near the free end of the offset portion of the finger a hook or barb M is formed at one side of the finger and a thread receiving channel M is formed in the thread finger running from the notch between the barb M and the body of the finger forward along the underside of the hook and then up along the front end of the latter to the top of the hook. The side of the thread finger which is adjacent the needle D when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 18 and 19 is flat; 6. 0., this side has no projecting barb or shoulder.

With the apparatus described the hooked end of the thread finger M will be moved along an elliptical path lying in a plane transverse to the studs II and serving to carry the hooked end of thread finger from an initial position in which it lies above the work and back of the needle D, through an intermediate position at the level of and along side of the edge of the work to be overseamed, to another position in which it lies beneath the work and in front of the needle. The throat plate A is formed with an oblique opening A to permit the hooked end of the thread finger to pass under the work.

The timing of the movements of the thread finger with respect to the movements of the needle D and feeding mechanism and the manner in which these parts codperate are illustrated in Figs 10 to 21, inclusive. In these figures N represents the needle hole from which the needle D 'has '!just been withdrawn into the position shown in Fig. 10, and in Fig. 21 0, 0 O and O represent the portions of the over edge loop of the needle thread practically but not entirely completed during the stages of operation illustrated in Figs. 10 to 21. When the needle D reaches its uppermost position the thread finger has started on its downward swing, the hook M engaging the needle thread at about the instant at which the needle reaches its upper position. While the needle and thread finger are moving from the position shown in Fig. 13 into the position shown in Fig. 17, the work is advanced by the feeding mechanism, the bulk of the feeding motion occurring prior to the time when the portion of the thread below the thread finger hook M is laid down against the work. After the thread finger hook passes under the work the needle D passes downward through the work and between the thread finger and the portion of the thread loop running from the top of the channel M formed at the end of the finger M to the edge of the goods. The thread finger reaches the bottom of its stroke at or partly before the time at which the needle D moving down from the position shown in Fig. 16 passes between the thread finger proper and the portion 0 of the over edge thread loop being formed. After the needle D has passed through the thread loop held by the thread finger and the thread finger is thereafter withdrawn, the loop is cast off from the thread finger as the latter moves through the position shown in Figs. 20 and 21.

ISO

While the point of the needle D is below the thread finger, as shown in Fig. 18, the needle thread is engaged by the cooperating stitch forming mechanism, which loops it about the lock thread or opens a loop for a chain stitch, or does both if the cooperating stitch forming mechanism is adapted to form a chain stitch and loop in a locking thread. In the particular machine shown, the 'cooperating stitch forming mechanism, comprising the rotary hook E and bobbin F, serve to loop the needle thread about the locking thread U to form a stitch, which at the under side of the goods appears as shown in Fig. 22. It will, of course, be understood, without explanation, by those skilled in the art that the co-active effect between the overseaming thread finger needle and feeding mechanism would be substantially the same if the cooperating stitch forming mechanism located below the work were any of the well known types adapted to form a single thread chain stitch at the under side of the goods as shown in Fig. 23, or a chain stitch with interlooped locking thread U at the under side of the goods, as shown in Fig. 24.

It will be apparent of course that the appearance of the stitch so far as it is observed at the top of the goods and at the edge of the seam will be the same with all three forms of stitching shown in Figs. 22 to 24, inclusive. One of the advantages of my improved overseaming mechanism is the regular and natural manner in which the portion of the stitch on the upper side of the goods and at the edge of the seam is laid, the finished Work resembling accurately formed hand work in this respect. The path of travel of the hooked end of the thread finger is an important factor of course in the proper laying of the over edge loops. The work accomplished by the machine as shown in Figs. 10 to 21, inclusive, is stitching a doubled strip of fabric W to the leather sweat band of a hat X; but it will be apparent without explanation that the machine is well adapted for overseaming many different kinds of work.

The simplicity of the thread finger and the mechanism by which it is given its movements and the easy character of these movements obviously adapt the machine for operation at high speeds and minimize the liability of the machine to get out of order. A characteristic of the mechanism disclosed which is of importance in that it permits of the easy movements of the thread finger, essential for satisfactory operation at high speeds, is the fact that the thread finger may begin to withdraw from the position shown in Figs. 16 and 18 as soon as the needle has passed down through the loop of the thread held by the thread finger, and the time of withdrawal does not depend at all closely upon the subsequent movements of the needle. In consequence, the withdrawal of the thread finger may be timed with a view to making the movements of the thread finger and its operating mechanism smooth and easy, and not with immediate reference to the position of the needle. Advantageously, provision is made for adjusting the throw or movement of the thread finger. A preferredmeans for accomplishing this adj ustment is illustrated in Fig. 5 ,wherein the connecting rod L is formed at its lower end with a threaded socket L receiving an adjustable abutment screw L This screw serves as a stop for the upper end of a plunger or hearing block L received in the socket portion L. The lower end of the plunger L is formed with a spherical cavity to receive the spherical head of the stud J. Below the socket portion L and communicating therewith is a slightly larger threaded socket L receiving the threaded bottom plunger or bearing block L which is threaded in the socket portion L The plunger L is formed with a spherical cavity to receive the spherical head of the stud J. L represents a locking nut for securing the part L in any desired adjustment. lVith the provisions described the effective length of the connecting rod L may be adjusted by rotating the screw L in its socket and these adjusting provisions possess the rather important practical advantage that they are concealed from the operator of the machine, thus preventing the ordinary machine operator from disturbing a proper adjustment made when the machine is assembled.

WVhile, as I have already stated, I prefer to operate the thread finger by means of an eccentric and connecting rod, I may employ a cam for this purpose, and the relatively smooth and gently curved cam contour which I am permitted to employ by reason of the character of the movements imparted to the thread finger itself permit of satisfactory operation at higher speeds than has been practically feasible with the cam operated thread fingers heretofore employed in overseaming mechanisms for performing work of the general character for which the apparatus shown herein is suitable. For instance, as shown in Fig. 25, I may mount a cam collar R on the main upper shaft K of the machine, providing this cam collar with a cam groove R receiving a stud S carried by a bell crank S pivotally connected to the goose neck as by the stud or pintle B To the Second arm of the bell crank S I pivotally connect a yoke T to which is pivotally connected in turn a connecting rod LA. The latter may be connected to and operate a thread finger supporting bar, which is similar, and is similar in its mounting, to the bar J shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

The simplicity and mode of construction v Gopiesof this patent may be obtained for of my overseaming attachment makes it possible to readily apply the attachment to various types of existing plain sewing machines. All that is required to accomplish this withthe type ofmachine shown, for instance, is to provide the driving shaft with an eccentric, form an aperture in the goose neck to receive. the connecting rod, form an aperture-in the throat plate A to permit the. passage therethrough of the thread finger, and attach the bracket H to the goose neck and couple the parts together. V '7 lVhile in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention, and that under some conditions certain features of my invention may be used without a corresponding use of other features. Y

, Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an overseaming sewing machine, the combination with a reciprocating needle, cooperating, stitch forming mechanism and work feeding mechanism, of an over edge in which the thread finger lies above the work and in back of the needle, through an intermediate position in which the thread finger is at the side of the work, to another positionin which the thread finger is below the work and in front of the needle, and means for giving the thread finger its movements in timed relation to the movements of the needle and feeding mechanism.

2. In an overseaming sewing machine, the combination with a reciprocating needle, cooperating stitch forming mechanism, work feeding mechanism and driving mechanism including a revoluble shaft, of an over edge looping thread finger movable, in a plane inclined at an acute angle to the line of action of the needle and intersecting a plane transverse to the line of action of the needle at an acute angle greater than the first men- 'tioned angle to the direction in which 'the RAYMOND L. PLUMLEY.

Witnesses:

THOMAS J. BOWEN, Jr., FRANCIS H. HAFFEOKER.

five cents each, by addressing the Comminloner of latent.

Washington, D. O. 

